New Details Released In Case Of Missing LA Toddler Found In Kentucky

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Southern California toddler missing since October has been found safe in Lexington, Ky., University of Kentucky Police said.

The child, 17-month-old Alouette Day-Moreno-Baltierra, was located by officers Thursday after reports came in about a suspicious person at a local hospital.

The child was later spotted by police with a woman on the university’s Lexington campus.

According to campus police, the woman claimed to be the child’s grandmother and gave authorities a false name.

“She was very uncooperative, she was trying to hide the face of the child. She did not want us to question her about the child, other than she claimed it was her grandchild. She did not want to provide us any documents on who the child’s parents were. She was just very uncooperative with our officers,” said Chief Joe Monroe.

Baltierra was in a stroller, wearing little clothing and had the beginning stages of frostbite when she located, police added.

She was abducted in Los Angeles on October 15th and is now in the custody of Kentucky Child Protective services.

The woman is believed to be 62-year-old Maria Baltierra De Jesus. Police believe the New York-native is the child’s grandmother.

She is being held on charges of endangering a child and custodial interference and will be extradited back to California.

Authorities do not know why the woman brought the toddler to Kentucky.

Kentucky police are working with the FBI and Los Angeles Police Department to investigate the case.